Mikel Arteta didn't hold back in his review of Arsenal's last-gasp defeat to Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
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Arsenal suffer last-gasp lossPorto have advantage ahead of second legArteta bemoans lack of attacking "threat"WHAT HAPPENED?
It looked to be job done entering the closing stages at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday night, with Arsenal heading for a fairly commendable 0-0 draw against the Portuguese giants. But a last-ditch stunner from Wenderson Galeno in the 94th minute gave Porto a slim advantage to take to the Emirates in two weeks' time, leaving Arteta less than happy after the full-time whistle.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT ARTETA SAID
The Gunners boss told post-match: "Obviously we have to manage much better when you cannot win. The way we handled the ball on three occasions in deep areas, it’s not good enough. It’s half-time, you want to be in the quarter-finals, you have to beat your opponent and that’s what we have to do at the Emirates. We lacked threat, we lacked much more threat, more aggression when we had the ball in the final third, especially in the back as well, more purpose to hurt them. We can do better. We play at home now, we know them and we know what to expect.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Arsenal haven't progressed past the last 16 in any of their last seven attempts, with Premier League icon Nicklas Bendtner leading the line the last time they reached the quarter-finals back in 2010. The Dane did score a hat-trick against Porto on that occasion in a 6-2 aggregate victory. Arteta will hope someone can step up in a similar vein in the return leg on home soil, after his side failed to record a single shot on target in Porto on Wednesday night.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
The 1-0 defeat puts an end to five-straight wins for Arteta's side, which all came in the Premier League since the turn of the year. The Gunners will aim to extend that league run and cut the gap at the top – which was extended by Liverpool on Wednesday night – when they face Newcastle at the Emirates on Saturday evening.